More Wooden Clocks

Seeing as you all enjoyed the Wooden Calculator and even moreso the Wooden Pocket Watch, I thought I’d lay down some more carpentry chronometry on you. First of all, let us note that wooden clocks aren’t as rare as you might believe. Wood has often sufficed in clockmaking when brass was scarce, either due to a shortage of the metal itself (e.g. in the newly-independent United States of America) or simply because wood was more affordable. The high friction of wooden gears is the main drawback, a problem master clockmaker and lone genius John Harrison (who went on to solve the Longitude Problem) solved by using lignum vitae, a tropical hardwood that exudes an oil and thus is self-lubricating. As a joiner by trade, Harrison used wooden parts wherever he could, although he turned to metal parts in later clocks. If you are in any doubt of Harrison’s skillz, know this: his Late Regulator clock is still running, 230 years on, and it still doesn’t need any oil.

Now, perhaps you fancy your very own wooden clock? One of Harrison’s pieces will set you back, ooh, say, several hundred million at a guess, so perhaps we should look for something more contemporary. Kuyt Richards are a company who employ artists to make clocks out of wood, and very beautiful they are too. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these:

Somehow I doubt my dole money is going to cover the price of one of these, so am I to be forever without a wooden clock in my life? Not at all, because the lovely people at Houtman Designs have a mail-order clock plan so you can build your own wooden clock. Designs come in both “beginner” and “intermediate” and can be made from your choice of wood, which, if you’re like me, will be wood stolen from building sites. Awesome!

Add comment June 19th, 2007